COUGARS Name Veteran Defender Antonio Sutton Player/Assistant Coach for 2007-2008 season

(Stockton Calif. June 11, 2007) – The California Cougars have announced that veteran defenseman Antonio Sutton will also serve as assistant coach for the 2007-2008 season. Sutton has played professional indoor soccer for over eleven years, and has been with the Cougars since the Team debuted in November of 2005. From 1997 to 2002 he played locally for the Sacramento Knights, helping them to a World Indoor Soccer League finals appearance in 1997, and a championship in 2000. He has been playing in the MISL since joining the Dallas Sidekicks for the 2002-2003 season, and has also seen time with the Cleveland Force and Monterrey Fury.

Sutton ranked second in blocks for the Cougars in 06-07, with a total of 45. This was also the third highest total in the league, behind teammate and league leader Ryan Hall, and Chicago’s Gaston Pernia. In addition, Sutton led the league in 06-07 in goals scored as a sixth attacker, with three. In five MISL seasons, Sutton boasts career totals of 151 games played, 71 goals scored, 27 assists, and 156 blocks. Sutton has been active in the community as a youth soccer coach. He has been a fixture of the Cougars Camp program since it began in the summer of 2006. He is a true student of the game, and has always enjoyed coaching. The opportunity to assist Head Coach Bernie Lilavois at the MISL level is a natural fit for him.

Cougars Head Coach Bernie Lilavois said, “Selecting Antonio was an easy choice for me. He has been a true professional throughout his career and I’ve had the pleasure of playing with and against him over the years. He will bring veteran leadership to us on the field as well as teaching and guiding our younger players in his assistant duties. I look forward to working with him in this next stage of both of our careers and we will be working extremely hard this off-season in putting together a competitive Cougars team this season.”

Antonio Sutton said, “I am excited about the opportunity to come in and help Bernie prepare the team mentally and physically for the MISL 07-08 season. We have the personnel we need to become a leading team in the league standings, if we train correctly from the beginning of the season. Bernie and I are committed to the goal of bringing an MISL Championship to Stockton, and we look forward to the opportunity to institute our system at training camp.”